Feeding device



May'19, 1942. J. PETERS FEEDING DEVICE Filed April 22-, 1940 Imnentor 7 8/875 Patented May 19, 1942 i i UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3- Claim.

This invention relates generally to lathes and similar machines for turning and feeding stock to cutting tools and relates more particularly to feed devices therefor.

It is an object of the present invention'to provide for a rod stock feeding machine, a new and improved friction feed device of a character such that the frictional force exerted will not diminish materially over long periods of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved friction feed device which will require little or no attention or replacement of parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is eilicient in operation and of durable construction and one which will not scratch the surface of the stock.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawing which form a part of this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved feed device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view shown in longitudinal section of the feed device.

Figure 4 is a view in cross section of the feed device taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an end View of the device looking from right to left of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of .a modified form of the device of Figure l, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view shown partly in elevation and partly in section of a machine for which my device is adapted for use.

Referring to the drawing by characters-of reference, the machine shown in Figure 7 includes a frame, of which only an upper portion I is shown, the frame III adjacent its upper end having horizontally-spaced, aligning, hollow bosses II in which an open-ended tube I2 is rotatably mounted. Fixed to the. tube I2, a gear, I3 is provided which may be driven by any suitable source of power to rotate the tube l2. As shown, the tube I2 extends through the frame I0, and onto one end of the tube is screw-threaded a chuck member I4, which may be of any suitable wellknown type, having a tapered end or wedge portion l5. Within the tube I2 there is provided a second tube I6 having a tapered end portion ll which engages in the tapered chuck portion I for frictionally coupling the two tubes for rotation together.

Reciprocable in the inner tube I6 is my improved friction feed device designated in .gen-

eral by the numeral I8. The feed device I8 includes a carrier member I9 which is slidably received and guided in the tube I6 and the member I9 is provided with a reduced threaded portion 2!] which screw .threads into the inner end of an open-ended tube 2la which is slidably received and guided in the tube I6. Carried by the member I9 there is provided a plurality of friction members 2i, of which there are two in the present instance, these friction members 2| being elongated and extending longitudinally within the tube It toward the chuck I4. The rod stock, designated by the numeral 22 extends through the tubular carrier I9 between the friction members 2| and through an aperture in the cooperative chuck member I1 to a cutting tool or tools, not shown, but which tools may be any of the well-known type employed with lathes and similar machines for making various parts from rod stock. Fixed in and to the carrier member, an open-ended tube 22a is provided,

to aid in guiding the rod stock when the stock is initially positioned in the machine.

On the oppositeend of the tube I6 from the chuck I4, an out-turned flange 23 provides an abutment surface for the ends '24 of a pair of toggle arms 25 which are pivoted, as at 26, to a suitable fixed support '21. Slidable on and along the outer tube I2 there is a toggle actuator 28 having a rounded outer surface 29 which engages ends 30 of the toggle arms 25, the ends 3.0 pref-. erably being rounded as shown to reduce friction between the parts.

On a horizontal shaft32 supported by the frame I0, there is a shifter member 33 having a shifter fork which engages in an external annular groove 34 provided in the toggle actuator 23. The shifter member 33 is provided with an integral follower member 35 which engages in a cam groove 36 provided in the outer periphery of a rotatable cam member 31 which is rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft "38, the shaft 38 being parallel to the shaft 32 and being supported by the frame I0. As the cam 31 rotates, the shifter member 33 is shifted along its shaft 32 to move the toggle actuator 28 toward and/or away fromthe togglearms 25. When the toggle arms are moved outwardly or away from each other, it will be seen that the tube I6 is moved to the right, wedging the tapered end portion I1 thereof in the chuck I4. The tapered end portion I1 is provided with longitudinal slots 40 which permit the split end sections to be moved inwardly and grip the rod stock 22 so that the stock will be rotated with the chuck by the driving means driving the gear l3.

A second reciprocable shifter member 42, slidably mounted on the shaft 32, is provided with a shifter fork 43 which engages in an annular groove 44 provided by .a pair of spaced out-turned flanges on the outer end of the tube 2|a.

Like the shifter member 33, the shifter member 42 is provided with an integral follower member 45 which engages in and follows a cam groove 46 provided in the outer periphery of a rotatable cam member 41, which is mounted on the shaft 38. It will be seen that as the cam member rotates, the member 42 will be shifted to reciprocate the tube 2| and consequently Will reciprocate the feed device H! which is secured to the tube 2 I.

Referring now in more detail to the feed device |8, the carrier member I9 thereof is provided with spaced pairs of lugs 48 to receive end portions respectively of the friction members 2| which are attached or connected to the lugs 48 by transverse pins 49. In order that the friction members 2| may move bodily inward to grip the rod stock 22, the pin receiving apertures, as at 58, in the lugs 48 are elongated transversely thereof to permit the pin 49 to move therein so that the entire inner surfaces of the friction members 2| will contact the surface of the rod stock 22. The outer surfaces of the friction members 2| are recessed as at and secured to these recessed surfaces are oppositely disposed anchor plate 52. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the anchor plates 52 are provided with spaced tabs or hooks 53, to which are secured opposite ends of helical coil springs 54 which are carried solely by the friction members .2|. Preferably a plurality of these springs 54 is provided on opposite sides of the friction members 2| and these springs urge the: friction members inwardly against the surface of the rod stock 22. The inner surfaces of the friction members 2| are rounded as at 55 to conform to the rod stock and these friction members may be used for gripping stock of various sizes within limits. Preferably the friction members 2| terminate at their outer or free ends in substantially semicircular end portions 56 which are slidably received and guided in the tube I6.

Referring now to the modification of Figure 6, in this construction instead of the helical coil springs 54, a pair of leaf springs 51 is provided to hold the friction members 2| against the rod stock 22. The leaf springs 51 are carried by the tubular carrier member I9 and may be secured thereto by screws 58 or by other suitable means. The leaf springs 51 extend longitudinally of the elongated friction members 2| and adjacent their free ends the leaf springs may be slightly bowed,

as a 58, where they engage the friction mem- I bers 2|.

In operation, when the parts are in the positions shown in Figure '7, the rod stock 22 is being rotated by reason of the chuck |4 clamping the cooperating chuck member tightly to the rod stock 22 and during this operation the rod 22 rotates relative to the friction feed device I8. As the cam 31 rotates, it moves the shifter member 33 to the right, which in turn moves the toggle actuator 28 to the right, permitting the toggle arms 24 to release the chuck tube i8, which is moved slightly to the left by the compressed chuck jaw |1, thus releasing the rod stock 22. As the above operation takes place, the cam 41 operating through the shifter member 42 shifts the tube 2| and the friction feed |8 to the right. Since the chuck member has been released by the chuck member M, the friction between the friction members 2| and the shaft 22 will now be sufficient to feed or advance the rod stock 22 to the right for the next operation thereon. After the rod 22 has been advanced by the feed device l8, the cam 31 operates through the shifter member 33 to move the actuator 28 to the left. As the actuator 28 moves to the left, it pivots the toggle arms 25 which operate to shift the tube IE to the right to wedge the split tapered end I! thereof in the chuck member l4 and again grip the rod 22 to rotate the same with respect to the tools operating thereon. Also, the cam 41 acting through its follower or shifter member42, retracts the feed device l8 preparatory to again advancing or feeding the rod 22 when the chuck is released.

It will now be seen that I have provided a new and improved rod stock feed device having a plurality of rigid, replaceable friction members or shoes carried by a reciprocable carrier member in such a manner as to present a large friction surface for engaging the stock. Also, it will be appreciated that the frictional force exerted by the springs through the friction members will not quickly diminish, with the result that the device will need little or no attention over long periods of time. In addition, the friction members of the present feed device are carried by the carrier member in such a manner that the springs act to bodily move the friction members radially into engagement with the rod surface such that the frictional force acting through the friction members is directed radially with respect to the axis of the rod stock.

While I have shown and described my invention in detail, it i to be understood that the same is to be limited only by the appended claims for many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described for feeding rod stock longitudinally, a carrier member having an aperture therethrough to receive the stock, a plurality of elongated friction members between which the stock extends longitudinally thereof, means for loosely and pivotally attaching said friction members to said carrier member comprising pivot elements engaging transversely elongated bearing bores whereby to provide for movement of said friction members inwardly to engage the rod stock, and spring means connected between said friction members and uging said friction members into engagement with the rod stock.

2. In a machine of the character described for feeding rod stock longitudinally, a carrier member having an aperture therethrough to receive the rod stock, 'a plurality of elongated friction members carried by said carrier member, means for attaching said friction members to said carrier member comprising .pivot elements engaging transversely elongated bearing bores whereby to provide for inward movement of said friction members bodily and relatively to said carrier member to grip the rod stock, and multiple spiral springs connected between said friction members for urging said friction'members against the rod stock.

3. In a machine of the character described for feeding rod stock longitudinally, a carrier member having an aperture therethrough to receive the rod stock, a pair of oppositely disposed elongated friction members carried by said carrier member, means for connecting corresponding ends of said friction members to said carrier member comprising pivot elements engaging transversely elongated bearing bores whereby to provide for bodily movement of said friction members inwardly to grip the rod stock, a spring holder secured to each .of said pair of friction members and extending transversely thereto, and a plurality of springs connected between said spring holders on opposite sides of said friction member urging said friction members together against the rod stock.

JOHN PETERS. 

